NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Action & Standings

The Oklahoma City Thunder maintained their perfect start, moving to 7-0 after decisively handling the L.A. Lakers in Game 3, showcasing the emergence of second-year guard Ajay Mitchell as a key secondary scorer while Jalen Williams remains sidelined. This dominant performance solidified OKC's position as a heavy favorite in their series, with futures markets now listing them at -160 to claim the championship, leapfrogging previously favored teams. Conversely, the Philadelphia 76ers face an insurmountable 0-3 deficit, even with Joel Embiid's return on Friday night, as Jalen Brunson delivered 33 points to seal the victory for the Knicks, putting the series within one game of elimination for Philly. In another Eastern Conference matchup, James Harden's late-game heroics, featuring three clutch shots in the final two minutes, propelled the Cavaliers past the Pistons 116-109, enabling Cleveland to cut Detroit’s series deficit to 2-1.

Coaching Stability & On-Court Disputes

In personnel news, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed his return, agreeing to a two-year contract extension with Golden State, a move that immediately addresses offseason uncertainty and dictates future roster decisions for the franchise, according to reports from Priority Sports agents Dan Eveloff and Rick Smith. Meanwhile, the competitive intensity boiled over in Minnesota, where Timberwolves coach Chris Finch publicly condemned official Tony Brothers for confronting him twice during a fourth-quarter stoppage in Game, labeling the interaction as "completely unprofessional behavior." The stakes of the upcoming NBA draft lottery remain exceptionally high this Sunday, with nearly a third of the league having seemingly tanked their seasons in pursuit of the top picks, leading analysts to speculate on the most likely selections for each team, including Darryn Peterson, whose doctors attributed his cramping issues to high doses of creatine following post-season testing.

Front Office Moves & Draft Preparation

As the season winds down for non-contenders, front office restructuring is underway, exemplified by the Mavericks hiring Mike Schmitz away from the Blazers to serve as General Manager, reporting directly to President Masai Ujiri. Attention now shifts toward the evaluation process for the next generation of league talent, as the NBA draft combine commences Monday, presenting dozens of prospects with a chance to drastically improve their draft stock ahead of the lottery. The volatile nature of futures betting also saw the Lakers' title odds dramatically lengthen to 35-1, reflecting their current playoff standing relative to surging contenders like the Thunder and the Pistons, who are battling to get into a 3-0 hole.